New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP043’

ABSTRACT

An  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having blush-pink flowers with darker splotches at the base of the petal, and green leaves, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens hybrida hort.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP043’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of New Guineaimpatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hybrida hort, andreferred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP043’. ‘SAKIMP043’ originated inMisato, Japan from an interspecific hybridization between theproprietary female Impatiens variety ‘NC-1H1’ (unpatented) havinglight-orange flowers and the proprietary male Impatiens variety‘NJ-1174A’ (unpatented) having lavender-colored flowers.

In January 2010, ‘NC-1H1’ and ‘NJ-1174A’ were crossed and a populationof F1 plants was created. The F1 plants were evaluated in Misato, Japanin an open-field trial. The criteria for plant selection included lightflower color, canopy-shaped plant habit, and a strong root system. Atthe completion of the trial, a single plant selection was made and giventhe experimental name ‘M2013-444’ based on the criteria above andvegetatively propagated. From June to August 2013, ‘M2013-444’ wasevaluated in an open-field in Misato, Japan. Shoot-tip cuttings of thevariety were then shipped to Salinas, Calif. where the plants werepropagated and re-evaluated for stability of traits. ‘M2013-444’ wassubsequently named ‘SAKIMP043’. ‘SAKIMP043’ was found to reproduce trueto type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetativecuttings in Salinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Blush-pink flowers with darker splotches at the base of the        petal; and    -   2. Green leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photographs are of a plant grown in Salinas, Calif. undergreenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonablyobtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘SAKIMP043’. Color references are to The RoyalHorticultural Society of London color chart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition(2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary ofBotanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.        -   Botanical.—Impatiens hybrida hort.        -   Common.—Impatiens.        -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP043’.-   Growth:    -   -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0            to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The            vegetative cuttings were propagated for five to six weeks.            The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a            1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water) root            inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the            cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays            having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based            growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from            overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient            roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and            grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse            located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based            growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,            10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or            every other day by overhead irrigation. Plants were            fertilized every 2 to 3 days, 2 times in consecutive            applications and then given one clear water application.            Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer            containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium.            The typical average air temperature was 24° C.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary female Impatiens variety            ‘NC-1H1’ (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary male Impatiens variety            ‘NJ-1174A’ (unpatented).-   Plant description:    -   -   Life cycle.—Annual.        -   Habit.—Spreading, dense.        -   Height.—17.5 cm from soil line to the top of the foliage.        -   Spread.—38.0 cm.        -   Number of branches per plant.—8 main branches.        -   Length of branches.—Branching begins at soil line, 20.0 cm            to 24.0 cm.        -   Diameter of branches.—1.3 cm for the main branch; 0.7 cm to            1.0 cm for the other secondary branches.        -   Color of branches.—Closest to RHS 60A (Red-purple) with            slight RHS 144B (Yellow-green).        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as temperature            is above 5° C.        -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue            flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C.-   Stems:    -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 60A (Red-purple) with slight RHS 144B            (Yellow-green).        -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 60A (Red-purple).        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   General description.—Strong; circular in cross-section,            smooth and shiny.        -   Length.—1.5 cm to 4.3 cm from the first node to the second            node; 13.0 cm to 19.0 cm total.        -   Diameter.—5.0 mm to 7.0 mm.        -   Internode length.—3.7 cm to 4.5 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite            if only two leaves at one node.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Surface appearance (both surfaces).—Dull and waxy.        -   Length.—6.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.5 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 139A (Green). Lower surface: RHS            147B (Yellow-green).        -   Variegation.—Absent.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Petiole.—Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 3.0 mm. Color: Closest to            RHS 145D (Yellow-green) with very slight RHS 60B            (Red-purple) on most of the petiole. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous.        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS 145D (Yellow-green).            Lower surface: Closest to RHS 138B (Green).-   Flower buds:    -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.        -   Length.—1.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Deltoid, longitudinal in cross-section.        -   Color.—RHS 62A (Red-purple) with RHS 144A (Yellow-green) at            the edge.-   Flowers:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom at one time;            about 10 flower buds.        -   Number of flowers per plant.—Approximately 60 in bloom.        -   Lastingness of individual flowers on the plant.—14 days.-   Corolla:    -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.        -   Diameter.—5.3 cm.        -   Depth.—1.0 cm.        -   Petals.—Surface texture (both surfaces): Glabrous. Length:            3.1 cm. Width: 2.8 cm. Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Emarginate            (cleaved). Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Color: Upper            surface: Closest to but lighter than RHS 52C (Red) for most            petals, with other petals having a much lighter petal color            closest to RHS 62D (Red-purple). Lower surface: Closest to            RHS 56A (Red) for most petals, with other petals having a            much lighter petal color closest to but lighter than RHS 56C            (Red). Eye zone: Closest to RHS N34A (Orange-red).-   Calyx:    -   -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Sepal number per flower.—2.        -   Sepal length.—1.0 cm.        -   Sepal diameter.—4.0 mm.        -   Sepal apex.—Caudate.        -   Sepal base.—Subcordate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous.        -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: Closest to RHS 145B            (Yellow-green) with RHS 145D (Yellow-green) at the base and            RHS 145A (Yellow-green) at the tip. Lower surface: Closest            to RHS 145B (Yellow-green) with RHS 145D (Yellow-green) at            the base and RHS 145A (Yellow-green) at the tip.-   Spur:    -   -   Color.—RHS 155C (White) with slight RHS 144C (Yellow-green)            at the tip.        -   Shape.—Tubular and curved downward.        -   Length.—5.5 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 mm to 2.0 mm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—2.2 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 144C (Yellow-green) with very slight RHS 60A            (Red-purple) at the base.        -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Stamen form: Fused and split into 4 lobes. Stamen            number per flower: 5. Filament form: Free. Anther length:            4.0 mm. Anther color: Closest to RHS 63B (Red-purple) but            transparent. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: RHS 158B            (Yellow-white). Pollen description: Powdery.        -   Pistil.—Pistil number per flower: 1. Stigma color: RHS 145D            (Yellow-green). Style color: Closest to but brighter than            RHS 137A (Green). Ovary arrangement: Parietal. Ovary            interior color: RHS 145B (Yellow-green).        -   Seed production.—Not observed.-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKIMP043’ is distinguished from its parents as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male ParentCharacteristic ‘SAKIMP043’ ‘NC-1H1’ ‘NJ-1174A’ Flower color Blush-pinkLight-orange Lavender Plant growth habit Spreading Mounding Mounding

When ‘SAKIMP043’ is compared to the commercial Impatiens variety‘SAKIMP013’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,597), the following differences asdescribed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP043’‘SAKIMP013’ Growth habit Spreading Compact Petal color, Closest to butlighter than RHS 52C RHS 65C upper surface (Red) for most petals, otherpetals (Red-purple) have a much lighter color closest to RHS 62D(Red-purple) Petal color, Closest to RHS 56A (Red) for most RHS 65Clower surface petals, but other petals have a much (Red-purple) lighterpetal color closest to but lighter than RHS 56C (Red) Spur color RHS155C (White) with slight RHS RHS65D 144C (Yellow-green) at the tip(Red-purple)

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plantnamed ‘SAKIMP043’ as described and illustrated herein.